Munro (Immortals After Dark #18) by Kresley Cole

            Munro flanked her. Though she and the wolf had just been fighting, they were now a unified front.

            Unperturbed, Stelian said, “The Forgotten lie in wait in the very village you mentioned. If you’d still like to go there, expect no future meetings with anyone except Jels the Conniver and his torturers. But if you accompany us, we will trace you anywhere you’d like to go after you and your mate attend my regents.”

            Ren gazed up into the vampire’s clear blue eyes. Was he telling the truth about Jels’s trap? Natural-born vampires were physically incapable of lying, right? Still, in the past, no vampire was to be trusted. Now so much had changed. In any case, Stelian didn’t strike her as evil.

            He added, “Aside from Lothaire’s assurance, I also vow to the Lore that you will both have safe passage to our kingdom and our protection within.” An unbreakable vow.

            Getting one step closer to the ring no longer appealed to Ren, now that Munro could abandon her at any time. But it was a risk she’d take to continue her quest for Dorada. Nonetheless, onward. “Then we look forward to meeting your rulers.”

            Munro scowled, but said, “Verra well.”

            When Stelian reached forward to trace them, Ren lowered her blade. But she kept it in hand.





            Dacia, the Realm of Blood and Mist





            The big leech traced Munro and Kereny into a spacious room, releasing them there. None of the other swordsmen followed.

            Munro held her arm until she’d steadied herself. Then she pulled away from his grip.

            Stelian raised a dark brow at that but didn’t comment. “This villa will serve as your quarters whenever you visit.” More than once? Lothaire must be serious about having an ambassador.

            Munro glanced around the luxuriously furnished space. One half was a living room, the other half a formal dining area.

            “You’ll be expected to dress for court,” Stelian said, doing a shite job of concealing his avid dislike of Munro.

            Never seen a werewolf juggernauting toward full beast mode, leech? Lachlain had told him that Dacians worshipped control; a Lykae’s beast must be horrifying to these vampires.

            But Munro wasn’t surprised to have lost control after that heated fight with his mate. What if the Dacians hadn’t shown? Would his beast have hurt her?

            Must find Dorada.

            Stelian said, “You’ve been provided garments and anything else you might require, and you’ll be served your evening meal here shortly. Afterward, the king and queen extend their invitation to visit them at the castle, an hour after sunset when the great clock chimes.” He gave Kereny a formal bow, ignoring Munro, then traced away.

            As soon as they were alone, Munro checked his phone for reception. Zero bars. As usual. He told her, “Going to case the place.” He strode past the long dining table into a luxe bedroom suite, scenting for dangers. He detected no others within the villa, and his Instinct was fairly quiet, considering Munro was inside a vampire realm.

            He released a pent-up breath and returned to the main area to find Kereny doing her own investigation. He headed to a set of double doors that he guessed led outside. Now that he’d had a chance to cool off, he flushed to recall everything he’d said to Kereny, but he understood the wellspring for his anger. Just when he could shuck off his worry about his brother, another replaced it.

            Damn it, how to get his mate to want immortality? To want him?

            What if it was never to be? Mayhap he would always need more from those he loved than they were able to give.





FORTY-SIX





            When the wolf opened the villa doors and stepped outside, he whistled low.

            What could elicit such a reaction from a long-lived immortal? Ren placed her bag on the dining table and headed in his direction, noting the splendor all around her. Stelian had traced them into a suite of rooms more opulent than any she’d ever seen.

            She walked out onto the balcony, and her lips parted at the kingdom that lay before them.

            Dacia was located inside the hollow interior of a giant mountain range. The ceiling of the cavern soared above, must be a staggering peak on the outside. At the pinnacle was some kind of shimmering crystal, the size of a hay cart. Below it, an enormous black castle stood on a rise.